Panels

Mergers and Acquisition Market Trends

10:30am–11:30am - Spangler Auditorium

2017 has brought with it a staggering number of geopolitical changes that have altered the course of the financial services industry. The effects on the M&A market have yet to be fully understood or realized as we make our way into 2018. As global political changes continue to test the system and favorable economic conditions continue to spur deal making, this panel will seek to explore the potential drivers and barriers to growth in M&A activity in the coming year. Advisors from bulge-bracket and boutique firms along with prominent investors, researchers, and reporters will share their thoughts on deal expectations across industries. Discussion also will include insights into strategic goals of CEOs and opportunities for private equity investors.

Disruptive Technologies in Finance: Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

11:30am–12:30pm - Spangler Auditorium

Blockchain is one of the most talked about technology developments in recent history. It has the potential to disrupt a variety of traditional industries, including the financial industry, by introducing a way to execute transactions in a more transparent, efficient, and trustworthy fashion. What is blockchain and why does it matter? How will blockchain be incorporated into our lives and professions? What impact will blockchain have on the future of the financial industry? Our panel of blockchain and cryptocurrency experts will help us explore these questions and more from a business, legal, and technical perspective.

Cybersecurity in Finance

1:30pm–2:30pm - Spangler Auditorium

As our world becomes increasingly digital and interconnected, all industries are being forced to increasingly focus on not only the opportunities, but also the vulnerabilities presented by technology. This is particularly true for the financial industry, which has been a forerunner in technology adoption and in implementing critical cybersecurity protections. This panel will explore some of the most pressing cybersecurity challenges for financial institutions including data privacy and protection, advanced threats such as nation-state actors, insider threats, managing third-party risk, and regulatory compliance. Our panel of experts includes cybersecurity leaders whose experience spans business, government, and technology and they will share their insights to help us better understand one of the most important issues facing the financial industry today.

Future of FinTech

2:30pm–3:30pm - Spangler Auditorium

The intersection of finance and technology or “FinTech” demonstrates the tremendous opportunity for market disruption, new products, and fulfillment of unmet consumer needs that technology can afford. Today, we are joined by a group of impressive fintech entrepreneurs that are leveraging technology and their extensive professional experiences in the investing and banking sectors to chart a new future in fintech. This panel will be an opportunity to learn more about the applications of technology in finance, the disruptive potential of fintech, how fintech can promote financial inclusion, and the experience of being a fintech entrepreneur.